Latest news with #RiverKelvin
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Tributes to tragic teenager who died in river tragedy during weekend's heatwave
The grieving mother of a teenager whose body was pulled from a river during the weekend heatwave last night said her 'heart was broken'. Emilis Vanagas, 15, was one of five people to lose their life as temperatures soared above 30C and thousands flocked to beauty spots across Scotland. The youngster's body was pulled from Glasgow 's River Kelvin after emergency services were called to the spot, near Maryhill Road, at about 6.40pm on Saturday. A major search and rescue operation was launched, but the schoolboy's body was found in the waterway around five hours later. Tributes have now been paid to the youngster who had only just celebrated his birthday. Mother Daiva Daivute paid her respects to the son she lost on social media, and said: 'My heart is broken, my dear son. 'Always remembered, never forgotten. Forever 15.' The devastated parent, who said it was 'hard to live without him' and that she would do 'anything to have him back in our lives' added: 'I miss him so much. He always cared about everyone around him - he always was nice with everyone. 'We are all going to keep him deep in our hearts and his will never be forgotten.' Aunt Patrycja Majewska said the youngster had just celebrated his 15th birthday and had the 'whole of his life ahead of him'. She said: 'His parents tragically got the news on Saturday that they found Emilis in the river close to their house. 'Unfortunately he was pronounced dead at the scene. 'His parents are devastated after this tragic loss.' Many others paid their respects to the well-liked teen, telling of their devastation. And G20 Youth Project, a local community group, also paid tribute. A spokesman said: 'Our community is mourning the loss of a 15-year-old boy whose life was taken far too soon. 'As you can imagine, no family is ever prepared for something like this.' The circumstances behind how the teenager, known as Emz, ended up in the water remain unclear. A Police Scotland spokesman said inquiries into the death were ongoing but that it was not being treated as suspicious. He added: 'Around 6.40pm on July 12 a search and rescue operation was launched following a report of a 15-year-old male in the River Kelvin, near Maryhill Road, Glasgow. 'Emergency services attended and around 11.30pm the body of a male was recovered from the water.' In a bid to raise money for Emilis's funeral, Ms Majewska has set up an online fundraising page. As of last night it has raised more than £2,900 as hundreds of people gave money to the cause. Four others died in Scotland at the weekend as temperatures shot up to their hottest in more than two years. A 50-year-old man died on Sunday after being pulled from Loch Lomond the day before, while a 63-year-old woman was pronounced dead after falling at the Campsie Glen waterfall. Meanwhile a motorcyclist was killed in a six-vehicle pile-up on the main route to the Highlands. The 71-year-old biker was pronounced dead after the crash on the A82 northbound, between Renton and Balloch, on Saturday. Another motorcyclist, aged 65, lost his life the following day after a crash with a car on the A85 near Lochewe.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Teenager found dead in river on hottest day of the year in Scotland
A 15-year-old boy was found dead in a river in Scotland on the country's hottest day in two years. Police responded to call outs to a beauty spot near Glasgow and launched a rescue operation on the River Kelvin, near Maryhill Road at about 6.40pm. The boy's body was later recovered at 11.30pm and his death is not being treated as suspicious. Police Scotland understand the boy's death to be accidental. A spokesperson said: "Emergency services attended and around 23:30 the body of a male was recovered from the water. "Inquiries are ongoing, however, the death is not being treated as suspicious." The boy's death is one of several incidents police attended as temperatures soared. It came just hours after a 63-year-old woman fell near Campsie Glen waterfall in East Dunbartonshire. Two fire engines and two water rescue teams were called to the scene at 12.35pm, but she died at the scene of the incident. Her death is also not being treated as suspicious. Police Scotland's spokesperson added: "Emergency services attended and the woman died at the scene. Her family is aware. "The death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be sent to the procurator fiscal." In a separate incident Galloway Mountain Rescue assisted the Scottish Ambulance Service near the Southern Upland Way footpath to help a walker who was suffering from heat exhaustion in Dumfries and Galloway. Emergency services attended the Southern Upland Way footpath, north of St John's Town of Dalry, at about 17:30pm. The spate of incident came as temperatures hit 32.2C at Aviemore in the Highlands on Saturday- making it the hottest day in Scotland since 2023. Temperatures have only been recorded that high on six occasions in the country since 1961. It was a weekend of searing heat across the UK with the mercury reaching 33C in Ross on Wye on Saturday. Northern Ireland and Wales, also recorded the warmest day of the year so far. But forecasters are suggesting the weather could soon shift to more cooler temperatures. The Met Office is predicting that the UK will see highs of just 23C degrees in London and 18C in Newcastle on Tuesday.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Forever chemical' found in dozens of UK rivers, study finds
A "forever chemical" that scientists worry might have an impact on reproduction has been found in all but one of 32 rivers tested across the UK, according to a study. Researchers say trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), which can take hundreds of years to break down, was detected at 98% of the 54 sites they investigated. According to the study, one sample - taken from the River Kelvin in Glasgow - contained the second-highest value of TFA ever recorded in surface water globally. The researchers say the average concentrations of TFA in the UK are at the "higher end" of the global scale compared with the results obtained from other studies - and that the chemical has been found in 31 of the 32 rivers analysed. The research - funded by environmental charity Fidra and carried out by the University of York - looked at how much TFA was present in surface water. It marks the first time such a project has been carried out in the UK. TFA is a type of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) - also known as "forever chemicals" - found in pesticides, pharmaceuticals and fluorinated gases (F-gases). But there is "growing concern" about the general impact on human health and its potential risks to drinking water supplies. According to Fidra, TFA is thought to have "low to moderate" toxicity; however, because levels are rapidly rising in the environment, there are concerns about future impacts. Studies have linked TFA exposure to birth defects in rabbits, while similar short-chained PFAS have been shown to have toxic effects on freshwater organisms. The German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has applied to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for TFA to be classified as toxic for reproduction. However, its impacts are still being researched. 'Increasingly concerned' Experts say the results of the latest study provide "compelling evidence of the presence of TFA and PFAS in UK waterways". The researchers added: "These data should be further analysed to try and establish the drivers of TFA contamination in UK surface waters and routes for source control should be prioritised. "The scientific communities are becoming increasingly concerned about the potentially harmful properties of TFA and increasing levels in the environment, particularly in water sources. "There are currently no practical or economically viable ways to remove TFA from water supplies. "TFA was found in 31 of the 32 rivers examined." Read more from Sky News: Samples were taken from sites across northern England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Scientists say TFA has the potential to cause reproductive and liver issues in mammals and is harmful to aquatic life. It also accumulates in crops and fields and "builds up" in drinking water. The research comes as a committee of MPs said the UK's water sector is in need of "root-and-branch reform". The cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) committee said the industry is "failing" - and trust and accountability in the sector was "very low".
Sky News
16-06-2025
- Health
- Sky News
'Forever chemical' found in dozens of UK rivers, study finds
A "forever chemical" that scientists worry might have an impact on reproduction has been found in all but one of 32 rivers tested across the UK, according to a study. Researchers say trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), which can take hundreds of years to break down, was detected at 98% of the 54 sites they investigated. According to the study, one sample - taken from the River Kelvin in Glasgow - contained the second-highest value of TFA ever recorded in surface water globally. The researchers say the average concentrations of TFA in the UK are at the "higher end" of the global scale compared with the results obtained from other studies - and that the chemical has been found in 31 of the 32 rivers analysed. The research - funded by environmental charity Fidra and carried out by the University of York - looked at how much TFA was present in surface water. It marks the first time such a project has been carried out in the UK. TFA is a type of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) - also known as "forever chemicals" - found in pesticides, pharmaceuticals and fluorinated gases (F-gases). But there is "growing concern" about the general impact on human health and its potential risks to drinking water supplies. According to Fidra, TFA is thought to have "low to moderate" toxicity; however, because levels are rapidly rising in the environment, there are concerns about future impacts. Studies have linked TFA exposure to birth defects in rabbits, while similar short-chained PFAS have been shown to have toxic effects on freshwater organisms. The German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has applied to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for TFA to be classified as toxic for reproduction. However, its impacts are still being researched. 'Increasingly concerned' Experts say the results of the latest study provide "compelling evidence of the presence of TFA and PFAS in UK waterways". The researchers added: "These data should be further analysed to try and establish the drivers of TFA contamination in UK surface waters and routes for source control should be prioritised. "The scientific communities are becoming increasingly concerned about the potentially harmful properties of TFA and increasing levels in the environment, particularly in water sources. "There are currently no practical or economically viable ways to remove TFA from water supplies. "TFA was found in 31 of the 32 rivers examined." Samples were taken from sites across northern England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Scientists say TFA has the potential to cause reproductive and liver issues in mammals and is harmful to aquatic life. It also accumulates in crops and fields and "builds up" in drinking water. The research comes as a committee of MPs said the UK's water sector is in need of "root-and-branch reform". The cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) committee said the industry is "failing" - and trust and accountability in the sector was "very low".
